Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 127: To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. George Osborne, told the British House of Commons on Monday that he had engaged in talks with the Irish Government regarding financial assistance for several weeks; the date on which he first communicated with the British Treasury regarding financial assistance; the talks that have taken place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45315/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Since Chancellor Osborne has taken up his duties, I have met him at various EU and other international meetings. Specifically, I met with him at the ECOFIN Council in Brussels on 17th November 2010. On that occasion and in subsequent telephone contact, he expressed his willingness to be supportive of Ireland. In his statement to the House of Commons on 22nd November 2010, he also made it clear that he was involved in discussions about Ireland's economic situation at other international fora such as the G20 in Seoul. Following this we spoke on the telephone again and there has also been telephone contact between officials on this matter.

Other than contacts on the margins of European meetings, there have not been direct, face to face discussions between Ireland and the United Kingdom with regard to the provision of financial assistance. However, it is entirely natural that in committing to significant funding the United Kingdom authorities will want to discuss matters directly with my officials and through the European fora. As you are aware, funding of the Support Programme for Ireland agreed at the weekend includes a bilateral loan from the United Kingdom. This is being provided on the same terms and conditions for the overall programme. The arrangements for this bilateral loan involved discussion between my Department and the UK Treasury.